IEBC clears Governor Obado’s wife

Migori governor Okoth Obado’s wife, Hellen has declared support for Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition party presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Helen who gunning for the Migori Woman Rep seat said she only has one vote, which is firmly secured for Odinga, locking horns with the husband, governor Obado who is Deputy President William Ruto’s point man in Nyanza.

“Raila is vying for president, I am vying as a woman representative but he has my vote on the ballot,” the First Lady said.

She was speaking in Migori Thursday when she was cleared as an independent candidate for the August 9 polls with sweet potatoes being her symbol.

Helen regretted that as an independent candidate she could not optimally campaign for Raila. “

I won’t give Raila the full support on my campaign trail because I am independent, I will work harder on selling my sweet potato agenda,” she said.

The first family is battling graft cases with the county boss facing trial over the murder of university student Sharon Otieno.

Obado and his children were charged last year with conspiracy to commit a felony relating to fraud of Ksh73.4 million from Migori county.

To shed off ‘Obado’s tag’ Hellen urged residents to focus on her potential as an individual.

“Obado sought voters’ mandate as a governor, and am doing so as an individual, my name on the ballot paper will be Helen Adhiambo Odie,” she said.

She shunned her husband’s the People Democratic Party (PDP) and choose the independent ticket.

Helen will face off with nominated MP Denittah Ghati of ODM, business lady Fatuma Mohammed and former Radio journalists Josephine Sirega on Independent tickets and Lillian Akugo of Jubilee Party.

Story/photo by Celestine Mwango